Separable snap-fastener element



Jan. 6, 1931. M. F. CARR SEPARABLE SN AP FASTENER'ELEKENT Filed April 18, 1928 portion of a wind shield lfatented Jan. d, 1931 mews.

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Mosnsr; cans, or'nnxrive'ron, "mkssncnosn'r'rs,"Assrenon Br Mnsnn Assisi;- man's-s T0 UNITED-CARR rascnnnnn CO ORATION,' or'onmnninen, massacresstars, A conronn'rron or MASSACHUSETTS" SEPARABLESNAP-FASTENER ELEMENT' Application filed April 18,.

My invention aims to provide improvements in separable fasteners and more particularly to fastener elements which are adapted to be secured to sheet metal structures which are inaccessible at their inner,

faces. y

In the drawings, which illustrate a'preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a plan section taken through a post showing a stud secured thereto in accordance with the in vention; 1

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the same line as Fig. 2 but showing the fastener before the attaching means has been expanded;

Fig. 4 includes a front elevation and a rear elevation, respectively, of the stud before attachment to a support; and

Fig. 5 shows a sheet metal expanding element.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated by the drawings, I have shown asnap fastener member which is particularly, though not exclusively, adapted for attachment to a relatively thin support-- ing structure such sheet metal.

The fastener member shown is providei'l with a hollow body portion formed from a single piece of sheet metal. pressed out of the desired shape. In this instance, I have provided a socket-receiving portion 1 at one end which includes the head portion 2 and neck 3. At the other end, I have provided a tubular-shaped attaching portion 1- having an outer wall 5 which'is adapted to be expandedto secure the fastener member toa support 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Be-. tween the socket-receiving portion 1 and'the attaching portion 4, I have provided a flange 7 which seats against one face of the sup,- port 6.

The attaching portion is preferably divided by slits 8 so that the outer wall may I be easily expanded. At the free end of the attaching portion, inwardly bent means is provided by bending inwardly the material between the slits to provide a number of tapered portions 9, as shown in Fig. 3. The

1928.] SerialNo. 270,911.

slits 8 terminate short of the flange 7 where it joins the waliof the attaching portion (Figsi'2 and soas to prevent the passage of dirt,xwater or dust when the fastener elementis attachedto a support, as hereinafter described; i v 7 .At the outerend of. the socket-receiving portion 1 ,the metal is bent'i'nwardly so that iteX'te'nds'into the interior. of thebody portion and is preferablydivided by'slits, 10

(Fig. 2) to provide a number of yieldable the expanding element in the body portion,

as shown by Fig. 3. I

The'niethod of attachment is simpleand particularly adapted, for securing snap fastenor elements to sheetmetal,objects and for useon objects such as wind shieldposts (Fig. 1) the inside of which is not accessible. Furthermore, the attachment issuch that only a relatively small space is required beyond the inner face of the object.

When securing a stud uni't to a windshield post-,as shown in the'drawings, the attaching portion2 is passed into ,a pro-formed hole,as shown inFig. 3. Then a suitable tool is pressed againstthe end of the expanding element, preferably in the form ofa plug 12 toward thetapered portions 9to expand the attaching portionibeyond the inner face of the wall of the post, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The cylindrical portion ltof the expanding elementv makes a tight fit with the inner face of the wall of the attachingv portion and thereby covers the'slits 8 to prevent passage of water, dust or dirt through the fastener to the inside of the post.

By makingthe attaching-portion 4 some what resilient it is not necessary'to form accurate" holes in the objects'to which the fastenerelements are to beattached. This,'of

'course, is a desirable advantage becauseit allows for substantial manufacturing.tolerances. r

The expanding element12 showniinFigs. v1, 2 and 3 is made of solid stock, butitmay I be made of sheet metal (Fig. 5) and 'be just V as effective as the solid one. I

If at any time 1t becomes necessary to remove a fastener element, attached to a support. in the above-described manner," it is only necessary to force the expanding element all the way through the attaching portion at until it falls out. Then as the tapered portions 9 are no'longer back-supported they may yield and permit withdrawal ofthe attaching portion from engagement with the support.

' WVhileIhave'illustrated and described 'preferredernbodiments' of the invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, therefore refname to this specification.

means for making the stud water-tight and dust proof, and yieldable means surrounding the aperture in the fastener-engaging portion for holding the expanding elementin assembly with the fastener member after it has 1 been forced through saidaperture.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my oses r. CARR.

erence should be made to the following claims posed through the passage in the.'socket-receiving pa'rt and adapted to be moved to expand said attaching portion by inserting a tool through the said opening in the socketreceivin'g portion, and said "axially movable member having an'annula'r wall engaging the inner surface of the wall of the expa'nsible at caching portion to close the said slots against passage ofdust, dirt or water.

.2. A fastener'stud having a socket-receiving portion 1, an attaching portion 4 for securing the stud to a. support, an expanding element 12 assembled. within the fastener I stud for expanding-the attaching portion i and making the stud water tight and dust proof andyieldable means 11 holding the expanding element 12 in assembly with the fastener stud at one end thereof. v

' 3; A snap fastener member having a portion for engagement withacooper'ating snap fastener member, an aperture formed insai'd engagingportion, an attaching portion extending from said engaging portion forsecuring'the snap fastener member to .a supporting structure, an axially movable expanding element "assembled within the fasportion, said expanding element having tener member for expanding the attaching. 

